“The song mentioned in a recent column was ‘Six Buzzard Feathers and A Mocking Bird’s Tail,’ which contained the refrain, ‘Gris gris for sale, gris gris for sale,’ etc.

“Written by Pinky Vidacovich Sr., and introduced on The Dawnbusters program on WWL, it was later recorded by Helen O’Connell on, I believe, Decca Records.”

Istrouma memories

Dot Dickinson, of Zachary, has a message for those nostalgic about Istrouma High School.

Elayne Spinks Kuehler (IHS Class of ’66) has done an original oil painting of the school, aka “The Reservation.”

She presented a copy to Frank and Kathy Parker, of Deerford, who host crawfish boils and pig roasts for Istrouma grads from the ’50s and ’60s.

Folks wanting prints of Elayne’s painting can contact her at http://www.qovf.org/">www.elaynekuehler.com.

Light ’em up

Keith Horcasitas sent in some “How many (blank) does it take to change a light bulb?” jokes recently, but he reminds us that “changing a light bulb is an everyday concern for some folks, especially the disabled and elderly. In my work with the elderly, changing a light bulb can be very dangerous, leading to falls, hip fractures, etc!”

He says if you have family, friends or neighbors who are elderly or disabled, consider their needs and offer to help them with this simple task.

Happy other birthday

Sylvia Essex Winder says, “On Dec. 12, 2000, I gave a kidney to my sister Connie, who has been a lupus patient for years and was about to go into kidney failure.

“The transplant changed that, and she is very healthy now.

“Each year Connie and I remember her ‘other birthday’ because she says she felt reborn after the transplant.

“We each work in our respective chapters of The Links Inc. with a program ‘Linkages to Life,’ encouraging others to consider becoming organ, bone marrow or tissue donors.

“The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency at www.lopa.org is a good place to find out how you can give the gift of life.”

Quilts for vets

Amelia Beadle, from Baton Rouge and Plaquemine, and husband Wade, from Reserve, currently live in Kennewick, Washington, where she owns Amelia’s Quilt shop.

So when she and Wade visited New Orleans for a family Thanksgiving dinner, she was proud to present quilts to two World War II veterans: Wade’s father, Frank Beadle, and her uncle, Emerson Dougherty, of Baker.

She presented them, she says, with gratitude and deep appreciation for their service.

He begs to differ

After Algie Petrere made a joke about accountants being, well, less-than-thrilling folks, I heard from my buddy Russ Wise, of LaPlace:

“Her joke may apply to some folks, but not to me! I married a West Virginia coal miner’s daughter who grew up, went to college, became an accountant and then even became a tax lawyer.

“She and her coworkers speak a language I don’t even pretend to understand, but it’s been anything but boring.

“She’s kept me out of jail and debtor’s prison for 35 years, and made me so happy it seems more like 35 days since she made the biggest mistake in her life: saying. ‘I do’ to a knucklehead like me.”

Wow, talk about scoring some major points!

Naughty or nice?

“This is my letter to Santa,” says Algie Petrere:

“Dear Santa: Before I explain, how much do you know already?”

Contact Smiley

Write Smiley at Smiley@theadvocate.com. He can also be reached by fax at (225) 388-0351 or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.